Gender

The representation of the LGBT community in the film industry has long been a topic of much debate. In her article, “It Ain’t Easy Being Bisexual on TV,” Amy Zimmerman addresses this topic with specific interest on bisexual representation. By appealing to the logic of her audience, using an informal tone, and referring to relatable content, Zimmerman constructs an argument which persuades readers of The Daily Beast that the film industry is unfairly and inaccurately representing bisexuals. However, her argument holds little influence over those who are not movie fans or The Daily Beast readers.

First of all, I want to analyze my favorite character in this movie--The father Henry. I believe he clearly knows that people have diverse ideas about what counts as a family and they have equally diverse ways of structuring family life, and it help him to communicate more respectfully with people who have varying family structures. For example, when he and his wife found out that their son Tommy got married with a male, he had a much calmer reaction compared to his wife. I can tell that he did not agree to gay marriage and he cannot accept the fact that his son was the “bride”, but he recognized the normal diversity of family forms, he understands that gays like Tommy and Jack has the right to love a person and have a family just like he does, so he tried to hide his true feelings and learned to accept it. That is why when Jack called, he answered the phone politely and told him that “I think I mean this, congratulations, you are a good kid, you deserve a lot better.” Then he caresses Tommy’s hair to show his understanding about their behavior.

Jack is more conservative when it comes to his lifestyle in the country. He does not want a boring life that’s only meant for business so he makes up a fake brother named Ernest. This leads him to live a double-life because he goes by the name Ernest when

Then there is Jack ahhh I love Jack. Jack is every stereotype ever whispered about gay men. He has delusions of grandeur, lives off the generosity of others because he can't keep a job, sleeps around

Jack has had three different male role models in his life. He had his father who divorced his mother and has not really been in contact with him. He had Roy who showed Jack how to be a man to never treat women with respect and that it was okay to control a women's every move when you are in a, supposed, loving relationship. Then his last male influence was Dwight who was a out of control and didn’t know how to show his emotions instead he taught Jack to suppress them until there was no more room, and then make room so that you can keep suppressing them. These are not the men that Jack had chosen to live with, the men that had come into Jack’s life were his mothers boyfriends and soon to be husband.

The character of Jack is presented as a questionable character as we don’t know if he has learnt anything seeing that he didn’t have to repent since Wilde constructed the ending in a way where he was called Earnest. As Jack has lied to get what he wants we see that he has been given faults. Here Jocelyn Powell’s explanation that comedy is seen as ‘comedy of criticism’ is not proven since there is doubt as to which category Jack belongs to because he is presented as a good character who has faults and a bad character that can be virtuous. Therefore, Jack can be seen as a hero and a villain. However, through Powell’s explanation of ‘comedy of experience’ , Jack can be seen as complex character because his behaviour and attitude is constantly modifying the angle that he is seen from. Hence, this indicates that Jack doesn’t belong to a specific category as they cannot be labelled as being ‘good’ or ‘bad’. In Act 1 as he proposes to Gwendolyn and has ‘come up to town expressly’ to do so, he is seen as a character that has a good intention

Throughout the book, Jack is heavily influenced by the male figures in his life. His father leaving his mother left

Jack Bolling appears to become somewhat disturbed whenever someone acts in a manner that he does not anticipate, or does not feel is appropriate for the role that they are, or are supposed to be playing. The importance of roles in Jack Bolling’s mind seems to be how he defines and understands the people around him. If they act out of character, it throws off life for him, or at least that is how he appears to react. Jack Bolling himself does not act in one specific role, either. He appears to have one role for every occasion, place and group of people. Around his aunt, he acts like the southern gentleman, just as she wants him to. Around Kate Cutrer, he is somewhat sympathetic, but does not appear to feel sorry for her, or pity her. This is just how Kate Cutrer wants him to act around her as well. This could contribute to the marriage of Jack Bolling and Kate Cutrer as well. Around Sam Yerger, Jack Bolling also seems to have yet

While many believe that homosexuality has only been seen in mainstream media for only a few decades, it has actually been with America cinema since the early 1920’s. The portrayal of homosexuality in film and TV has come a very long way since the 1920’s. What viewers see on TV about homosexuality is really just a representation of America’s changing public view on the subject. While we have come to accept the topic of homosexuality in American society more willingly, we have substituted much of our prejudice about gays with the stereotypes that we see on TV constantly. Because as a society we are constantly forced to see these stereotypes, we are being halted in our progression to accept all different kinds of lifestyles.

Jack makes fun of Melanie’s future husband and asked random questions to keep the conversation going. First, he tells her that William is nineteen years older than him. He even calls him granddaddy and questions her on how old William is going to be when her baby turns ten. Furthermore, Jack asked William out of nowhere if he smokes. He asked him that question to see if he responded yes so he can make another argument. According to Bausch, “He sat down in his kitchen and tried to think of something else to say” (89). This demonstrates how Jack wants to keep the conversation going in order to prevent talking about the problems within his marriage. However, he takes it too far and hurts Melanie’s feelings. All throughout the conversation he is thinking about himself and what to say to avoid talking about his problem but he doesn’t realize that what he is saying hurts Melanie’s feeling because that is the man she loves that he is making fun of.

It is easy for readers to categorize Jack as a cruel, cold hearted, upper class bigot considering his actions and words. I have to admit I think he comes off that way sometimes. But he also is a lot more than just

Brokeback Mountain, being the more homosexual romance-oriented Western that it is, subverts a large number of the typical traditional elements of the Western film genre as a whole, this one especially, by having another male be in the position of the love interest of the hero. Although this subversion in particular is very problematic for Jack, as it puts him in the shoes of being associated with all things relating to femininity in the relationship. For example, Jack is the one who makes the first move when seducing Ennis, using his own allure and sexuality into tempting Ennis when he calls him into the tent, leading Ennis down somewhat of a risky path. Ennis, however, is portrayed as somewhat of a saint, his being repressed and restrained by social standards, saying to Jack, “You may be a sinner but I ain't yet had the opportunity”. Another interesting typical thing in the Western genre that was altered was that instead of Indians being the villain, the enemy is that of a ignorant and oppressive society–a society that would kill Ennis and Jack for being “different”, Ennis says to Jack, “this thing takes hold of us at the wrong place, wrong time and we're dead,” which shows how much they both worry about it–but the two cowboys still have to find some way to pull through and struggle to find their true selves in this society, but it is also that fear which causes the devastating events

being discovered as a homosexual, and the only way Jack could ever get closer to Ennis was

Although Jack felt societal pressure to create the persona of Ernest, they are still the same man, having

Evidence was gather that he was indeed a homosexual (biography.com). Oscar Wilde was having an affair with a man named Lord Alfred Douglas (biography.com). They presented some of his homoerotic literary works and love letters that he had wrote to Douglas (biography.com). He was thrown in prison for gross indecency (biography.com). Just like his secret of an affair with a man was revealed, Jack’s secret of his nonexistent brother was revealed. It ruined Oscar’s career when he went to prison. Three years after he was released from prison, he died while living in poverty (biography.com).